Media Studies

Interested in thinking and writing about media, but don’t want to be a journalist?
The new Media Studies concentration in Journalism is designed for students who enjoy
discussing, analyzing, and writing about film, TV, advertising, and other media. The
degree is ideal for those interested in a liberal arts approach to mass communication,
especially if planning to pursue graduate studies. Students will participate in academic
media research and writing. Majors examine media messages in historical and contemporary
media, plus critique visual images and their impact on society. They also explore
how and why media influence audience perception and behavior.

MTSU Poll gauges public opinion in the region

The once-a-semester MTSU Poll measures opinions of Tennesseans on hot-button issues.
Over the past decade, state residents have been sampled on such subjects as gay marriage,
teacher tenure, illegal immigration, Muslims’ religious rights, political races, and
the budget gap. Students learn from taking part in data analysis and interpretation.
Responses are analyzed, and findings released to media. Two professors in the Media
Studies program are highly involved: Dr. Ken Blake, operations director of the MTSU
Poll, and Dr. Jason Reineke, associate director.

Majors study media from various perspectives

Courses for this conceptual concentration of Media Studies challenge students to think
about the interplay between media and society. Topics include diversity such as race
and gender, as well as global media systems and perspectives. Majors choose a course
in media criticism from film, television, or mass communication. Students can pick
three electives from options that include advertising and social media, sexuality
and gender in adversity, mass media law, ethics, and healthcare communication. Media
Studies majors also get to conduct a senior research project in an area of their own
interest.

A degree in Media Studies gives students an academic background to prepare for a variety
of career paths in the field of communications, including research. In particular,
students may want to seek a graduate degree in mass communication or other areas such
as law. Here are some potential occupations

Advertising agent

Broadcaster

College professor

Communications associate

Community relations director

Corporate trainer

Digital/social media manager

Entrepreneur

Filmmaker

Lawyer

Marketing analyst/manager

Media buyer

Media critic/TV or movie reviewer

Media manager

Political campaign director

Pollster

Producer

Public relations manager

Reporter/writer

Researcher

Screenwriter/scriptwriter

Employers of MTSU alumni

Because this degree program is quite new, employer information is still being compiled.

MTSU's School of Journalism offers work leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
degree with a major in Journalism. Concentrations are available in

Journalism, Media Studies Concentration, B.S.

The Journalism major with a Media Studies concentration is designed for students who enjoy discussing, analyzing, and writing about film, television, advertising, and other media. In this concentration, students think about the interplay between media and society, exploring the messages in historical and contemporary media content, as well as examining how and why media influence audience perception and behavior.

Major Requirements (47 hours)

School of Journalism Core (14 hours)

EMC 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 1020/RIM 1020.)

The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

JOUR 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 1020/RIM 1020.) The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

RIM 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 1020.) The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

JOUR 2710 - Media Writing

3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020 or equivalents. Theory and practice of writing for print and electronic media according to the techniques, styles, and formats of various media. Laboratory required.

EMC 3650 - Free Expression, Mass Media, and the American Public

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 3650/RIM 3650.)

A general introduction to the issues surrounding free expression and its relationship to mass media in contemporary America. A comprehensive analysis of the history, philosophies, cases, and controls associated with freedom of expression.

JOUR 3650 - Free Expression, Mass Media, and the American Public

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3650/RIM 3650.) A general introduction to the issues surrounding free expression and its relationship to mass media in contemporary America. Comprehensive analysis of the history, philosophies, cases, and controls associated with freedom of expression.

RIM 3650 - Free Expression, Mass Media, and the American Public

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 3650/EMC 3650.) A general introduction to the issues surrounding free expression and its relationship to mass media in contemporary America. A comprehensive analysis of the history, philosophies, cases, and controls associated with freedom of expression.

JOUR 4880 - Professional Development

1 credit hour credit hours

Prerequisite: Senior status. Issues faced by graduates upon entering the professional world or graduate school. Topics include preparation of the professional portfolio, the resume and cover letter, post-graduate study, and professional advancement. Should be completed by majors in the School of Journalism in either of their last two semesters prior to graduation.

Media Studies Foundation (12 hours)

JOUR 3510 - Media History and American Culture

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3510.) Development of American journalism and the mass media from Colonial times to the present, including the role and influence of mass media on American culture, technical advances, and contributions of individual personalities.

JOUR 4670 - Cultural Approaches to Media

3 credit hours

Provides a critical overview of the historical, intellectual, and theoretical foundations of cultural studies with specific emphasis on research methods. Explores popular culture, comparative media systems, global media flows, and new media technologies, among other topics pertinent to media and journalism.

VCOM 2010 - Introduction to Visual Communication

3 credit hours

Overview of concepts for effective visual communication; the role of visual elements and design practices in a cultural, historical, and political context; basic typography and design, electronic and digital composition and reproduction, and technological aspects of design and production.

JOUR 3000 - Introduction to Motion Pictures

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. The development and role of motion pictures in America, including the history of films and filmmakers, the influence of film on American culture, and film criticism.

JOUR 3050 - Principles of Health Communication

3 credit hours

Introduces students to fundamental issues in Health Communication. The development of health communication, the role of interpersonal communication in health care, the design and challenges of public health campaigns, intended and unintended health messages in news and popular media, the structure of health care organization, and key ethical issues in creating and disseminating health messages to diverse audiences.

JOUR 4210 - Mass Communication and Society

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4210.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Theories of the process of mass communication, how media affect society, the evolution within a social and cultural context, ethical and social dimensions. Extensive reading in theory, history, and research. Media-content emphasis varies depending on instructor's expertise.

JOUR 4240 - Television, Culture, and History

3 credit hours

Examines television as a cultural product, communication tool, "mirror on the world," and as an agent for social change. Explores censorship, sponsorship, ethics, and the impact of context on content. Focuses on role that television has had and continues to have on constructing notions of gender, race, class, and difference.

JOUR 4250 - Mass Media Law

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4250.) Prerequisites: JOUR 1020; junior standing. Examination of legal guarantees and restrictions on the flow of information using the case study method. Focus on libel, privacy, obscenity, and the special restrictions placed on advertising, broadcasting, cable TV, and the Internet.

JOUR 4700 - Mass Media and National Security

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior/Senior standing or permission of instructor. Examines the role of the mass media in maintaining national security. Topics include history, legal, and operational concerns from both media and the government perspectives. Discusses the tension between maintaining national security and American traditions of civil liberties and the role of both the media and government in these discussions.

JOUR 4800 - Seminar in Media Issues

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Examination and critical evaluation of issues relevant to the operation and functions of mass media, including their relationships to each other and to government, advertisers, consumers, and other publics. May be repeated up to 6 credits.

VCOM 3810 - History of Visual Communication

3 credit hours

Explores various creative and critical dialogues between principles and practices, movements and paradigms, art, science, and technology relating specifically to journalism and visual media from the printed to the digital.

JOUR 4850 - Ethics and Mass Communication

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4850.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Examination of ethical concerns of media practitioners illuminated by study of selected current ethical issues and an overview of the cultural and philosophical basis of socially responsive mass media.

EMC 3600 - Digital and Media Literacy

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 3600). Prerequisite: EMC 1020/JOUR 1020/RIM 1020. Enables students to develop an informed and critical understanding of media messages and media culture as well as their social, cultural, and political contexts and implications. Students develop the critical thinking skills and methods of analysis necessary to interpret media content in a digital age. Offers ways to think critically about media as they relate to citizenship and democracy.

JOUR 3600 - Digital and Media Literacy

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3600). Prerequisite: EMC 1020/JOUR 1020/RIM 1020. Enables students to develop an informed and critical understanding of media messages and media culture as well as their social, cultural, and political contexts and implications. Students develop the critical thinking skills and methods of analysis necessary to interpret media content in a digital age. Offers ways to think critically about media as they relate to citizenship and democracy.

Diversity and Global Culture (3 hours)

EMC 4790 - Global News and World Media Cultures

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 4790.) Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Systems and philosophies associated with gathering international news and news coverage in different regions. Looks at global communication systems and ownership; examines how cultures shape news and the role of the individual in reporting news internationally. Includes discussion of development issues and role of global advertising and public relations.

JOUR 4790 - Global News and World Media Cultures

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4790.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Systems and philosophies associated with gathering international news and news coverage in different regions. Looks at global communication systems and ownership; examines how cultures shape news and the role of the individual in reporting news internationally. Includes discussion of development issues and role of global advertising and public relations.

JOUR 2132 - Introduction to Video Journalism

3 credit hours

Essential production techniques and applied technical skills necessary to arrange, shoot, edit, and produce a television news story in the field. All facets of electronic media news field production covered including camera work, lighting, audio, and editing.

JOUR 3520 - Special Topics in Professional Issues

3 credit hours

(Same as ADV/PR/VCOM 3520.) Prerequisites: JOUR 3090 or permission from the School of Journalism. Special topics in journalism, advertising, public relations, and visual communication focusing on practical applications. Topics change each semester and have included investigative, environmental, sports, and political reporting; visual editing; international public relations; and advertising account management. May be repeated up to 6 credits.

JOUR 3530 - Feature Writing

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: JOUR 2710 or permission of instructor. Theory and practice of writing feature stories for newspapers and magazines. Assignments in writing for professional publications as well as the student newspaper.

JOUR 4300 - Reviewing and Criticism

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Theories and practice of reviewing and criticism in the mass media. Overview of current trends in film, theatre, music, books, and other entertainment media. Practice in critical and analytical writing.

Senior Capstone (3 hours)

JOUR 4910 - Research in Media Issues

3 credit hours

Students work on developing good writing skills while conducting original research in their areas of interest. Students will critique each other's writing in a peer-workshop environment, as they edit and revise their own writing--building to a journal-quality research paper presented to the class in a conference-like setting.

Minor (15-18 hours)

Selected from outside the School of Journalism and the Department of Electronic Media Communication

Electives (14-17 hours)

Students in the School of Journalism must complete 72 hours of coursework from outside JOUR or EMC courses. Students must select at least nine hours of liberal arts/social sciences (beyond General Education); at least six hours of liberal arts/social science electives must come from courses at the 3000-level or higher.

ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing

3 credit hours

Prerequisite: ENGL 1010. The second General Education English course. Emphasis on analytic and argumentative writing and on locating, organizing, and using library resource materials in the writing. Minimum grade of C- required for credit.

COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication

3 credit hours

Principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Emphasis on informative, persuasive, special occasion, and extemporaneous (impromptu) speaking. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement.

JOUR 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 1020/RIM 1020.) The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

EMC 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 1020/RIM 1020.)

The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

RIM 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 1020.) The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I

3 credit hours

Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020.

HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II

3 credit hours

Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020.

VCOM 2010 - Introduction to Visual Communication

3 credit hours

Overview of concepts for effective visual communication; the role of visual elements and design practices in a cultural, historical, and political context; basic typography and design, electronic and digital composition and reproduction, and technological aspects of design and production.

JOUR 2710 - Media Writing

3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020 or equivalents. Theory and practice of writing for print and electronic media according to the techniques, styles, and formats of various media. Laboratory required.

JOUR 3510 - Media History and American Culture

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3510.) Development of American journalism and the mass media from Colonial times to the present, including the role and influence of mass media on American culture, technical advances, and contributions of individual personalities.

Natural Sciences 4 credit hours

Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours

Minor courses 6 credit hours

Elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

JOUR 3650 - Free Expression, Mass Media, and the American Public

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3650/RIM 3650.) A general introduction to the issues surrounding free expression and its relationship to mass media in contemporary America. Comprehensive analysis of the history, philosophies, cases, and controls associated with freedom of expression.

JOUR 4670 - Cultural Approaches to Media

3 credit hours

Provides a critical overview of the historical, intellectual, and theoretical foundations of cultural studies with specific emphasis on research methods. Explores popular culture, comparative media systems, global media flows, and new media technologies, among other topics pertinent to media and journalism.

HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I

3 credit hours

Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020.

HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II

3 credit hours

Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020.

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

JOUR 4880 - Professional Development

1 credit hour credit hours

Prerequisite: Senior status. Issues faced by graduates upon entering the professional world or graduate school. Topics include preparation of the professional portfolio, the resume and cover letter, post-graduate study, and professional advancement. Should be completed by majors in the School of Journalism in either of their last two semesters prior to graduation.

JOUR 4910 - Research in Media Issues

3 credit hours

Students work on developing good writing skills while conducting original research in their areas of interest. Students will critique each other's writing in a peer-workshop environment, as they edit and revise their own writing--building to a journal-quality research paper presented to the class in a conference-like setting.

EMC 4790 - Global News and World Media Cultures

3 credit hours

(Same as JOUR 4790.) Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Systems and philosophies associated with gathering international news and news coverage in different regions. Looks at global communication systems and ownership; examines how cultures shape news and the role of the individual in reporting news internationally. Includes discussion of development issues and role of global advertising and public relations.

JOUR 4790 - Global News and World Media Cultures

3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4790.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Systems and philosophies associated with gathering international news and news coverage in different regions. Looks at global communication systems and ownership; examines how cultures shape news and the role of the individual in reporting news internationally. Includes discussion of development issues and role of global advertising and public relations.

Areas of Expertise

Biography

Sanjay Asthana, Professor in Journalism, earned his Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2003 from the University of Minnesota. He also holds an MPhil degree in Philosophy and an MA degree in Communication from the University of Hyderabad in India. Dr. Asthana teaches courses in visual communication, globalization, communication technologies, media and cultural studies. He worked as a radio broadcaster at the All India Radio (state-regulated network) in India, where he scripted and produced current affairs programs and numerous documentaries on social and political themes. Dr. Asthana?s major research areas include media globalization, youth media, cultural and postcolonial studies. His research appeared in the Journal of Communication Inquiry, Critical Studies in Media Communication, Media, Culture & Society, International Journal of Cultural Studies, and essays in several other journals and books. Dr. Asthana is the author of Palestinian Youth Media and the Pedagogies of Estrangement (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016); Youth Media Imaginaries from Around the World (Peter Lang, 2012); Innovative Practices of Youth Participation in Media (UNESCO, 2006); and a co-author of the report, Media Information Literacy: Policy and Strategy Guidelines (UNESCO, 2013).

Areas of Expertise

Biography

Ken Blake, associate professor of journalism, earned his Ph.D. in Mass Communication in 1997 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He teaches courses in writing, reporting, data journalism, and empirical media theory. Additionally, he director of the MTSU Poll, a once-a-semester, scientifically valid telephone poll of Tennessee adults. The poll is funded by the Office of Communication Research and the MTSU School of Journalism. Dr. Blake's research interests include mass media and society, public opinion theory and methodology, and Internet-based instruction. A former newspaper reporter, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.

Degree Information

Areas of Expertise

Breastfeeding discourse in media (from advertising to entertainment television)
Constructions of health responsibility and representations of deafness and hearing loss
Cultural studies approaches to media and qualitative methods
Discourse of television theme songs
Gender and media
Gender and victimization in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Minds
Health communication
Pioneer medicine in television
Portrayals of journalists in comic book films

Biography

Katherine Foss, associate professor, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2008. Her teaching interests include health communication, gender and media, cultural studies approaches to media and qualitative methods. Her current research focuses on breastfeeding discourse in media (from advertising to entertainment television), constructions of health responsibility and representations of deafness and hearing loss. Her past research projects have examined gender and victimization in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Minds, the discourse of television theme songs, pioneer medicine in television and portrayals of journalists in comic book films.

Her work has appeared in Health Communication, Disability Studies Quarterly, Women & Health, International Breastfeeding Journal, Communication Quarterly and other peer-reviewed journals, along with book chapters in Beyond Health, Beyond Choice: Breastfeeding Constraints and Realities and The Harms of Crime Media: Essays on the Perpetuation of Racism, Sexism and Class Stereotypes. She was an invited speaker at the 2012 Great Nurse-In, a breastfeeding advocacy event held on the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. She also won the 2012 James W. Carey Media Research Award for her co-authored article (with Dr. Kathy Forde), entitled "'The Facts-the Color!-the Facts': The Idea of a Report in American Print Culture, 1885-1910," published in Book History.

Biography

Jane Marcellus, professor, earned her Ph.D. in Communication and Society (Media Studies) at the University of Oregon, where her research examined representation of employed women in early twentieth-century magazines. She also holds a bachelor's in English from Wesleyan University, a master's in journalism from Medill at Northwestern, and a second master's in English from the University of Arizona. Dr. Marcellus's classes include media history, feature writing, and cultural studies theory.

Dr. Marcellus is the author of Business Girls and Two-Job Wives: Emerging Media Stereotypes of Employed Women (Hampton Press, 2011). She is also co-author, with Erika Engstrom, Tracy Lucht, and Kimberly Wilmot Voss, of Mad Men and Working Women: Feminist Perspectives on Historical Power, Resistance, and Otherness (Peter Lang, 2014), which was named to Teen Vogue magazines 'most epic feminist reading list ever' in 2015. (See teenvogue.com/gallery/feminist-literature-womens-equality-day/25.) Her work has also been published in Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, American Journalism, Feminist Media Studies, Women's Studies-An Interdisciplinary Journal, and the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. Book chapters have appeared or are forthcoming in Friends, Lovers, Co-Workers, and Community: Everything I Know About Relationships I Learned from Television, Prison Narratives From Boethius to Zana, and Bad Men and Damaged Women: Gender, Violence and 21st Century Television. She is on the editorial board for Journalism History and the 'Women in American Political History' series from Lexington Books. Her research has received several national awards from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and the American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA). She has served on the AEJMC Publications Committee, which she chaired in 2015-2016, as head of the Cultural and Critical Studies division, and on the selection committee for AJHA's Blanchard Dissertation Prize.

She was a co-convener (with Dr. David Lavery, Dr. Kirsty Fairclough-Isaacs, and Dr. Michael Goddard) of Mad Men: The Conference, held on the MTSU campus in May 2016.

Degree Information

B.S.C., University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1998)

Biography

Whitney Matheson joined the School as its Journalist in Residence in Spring 2015. Previously, she spent 15 years covering entertainment for USA Today, where she founded and wrote the award-winning blog Pop Candy. She has contributed pop-culture commentary to several TV and radio outlets, including MSNBC, BBC America, VH1 and NPR. She continues to write for several publications, including Slate, Mental Floss, Playboy and ETonline.

Degree Information

Ph.D., University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1992)M.S., Auburn University (1983)B.A., Auburn University (1982)

Biography

Gregory Pitts is a professor and director of the School of Journalism at Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a mass communication faculty member at both public and private universities for more than 20 years. He previously chaired the Department of Communications at the University of North Alabama, where he led the mass communication program to earn its initial accreditation review by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Other leadership roles include: Director of Faculty and Student Programs for the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Educational Foundation and media management trainer for the International Broadcasting Bureau, a unit of the U.S. Department of State.

He is an active member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and completed the Journalism and Mass Communication Leadership Institute for Diversity (JLID) Fellowship through AEJMC. He is also a member of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and is a past board member.

Dr. Pitts is the recipient of two Fulbright appointments (Zambia and Montenegro) and two Fulbright Specialist appointments (Ukraine). He is co-author of The Radio Broadcasting Industry (with Alan Albarran) and has published in Communication Technology Update, Communication Law & Policy, Journal of Radio Studies, Southwestern Mass Communication Journal, Ecquid Novi and Feedback. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Degree Information

Areas of Expertise

Biography

Jan Quarles, professor, earned her doctoral degree in Mass Communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She teaches courses in global news and world media cultures and masters courses in media management and has an extensive background in public relations. She first worked in Washington D.C. in health care public relations and subsequently earned her doctorate while working part-time as a copy editor at the Knoxville News-Sentinel. She has taught for more than 30 years in universities in the United States. She taught at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, where she directed a degree program in Public Relations and worked with graduate students. She has served as Associate Dean, Director of the School of Journalism and Director of the Masters program at various times during her tenure at MTSU.

Dr. Quarles is the author, along with Bill Rowlings of Australia, of Practising Public Relations: A Case Studies Approach, the first case studies text for Australian students. She is a lifetime member of the Public Relations Institute and worked on the initial accreditation structure for Australian public relations programs. She is actively involved in ACEJMC and with its accreditation process.

She has published in Media Asia and has a chapter on Cambodia in Alozie's Advertising in Developing and Emerging Economies. Her current research focuses of the flow of cultural products around the world, cultural policy and the impact of the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity.

Dr. Quarles has received two Fulbright grants, a post-doctoral grant to study Australian reporters and newsrooms in Melbourne, and a Senior Specialist Grant to the Royal University of Phnom Penh. She has traveled widely and worked on projects in St. Petersburg, Russia, in Australia and New Zealand and across Southeast Asia. She is a Salzburg Fellow, a graduate of the Journalism Leadership in Diversity program and a graduate of the HERS program at Bryn Mawr. She was an initial founder of the group Tennesseans Against Genocide.

Degree Information

Areas of Expertise

Political communication
Public Opinion

Biography

Jason Reineke, associate professor, holds masters and doctoral degrees in Journalism and Communication from The Ohio Sate University, and a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Miami University. His research and teaching interests are focused mainly on public opinion and political communication, especially involving freedom of expression and support for censorship, as well as research methods and statistical analysis.

Dr. Reineke is the associate director of the MTSU Poll, a statewide survey conducted twice each year to assess Tennessee residents' opinions on a variety of issues. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, the Journal of Communication, the Journal of Health Communication, and Mass Communication and Society.

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Journalism

JOUR 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 1020/RIM 1020.) The power of the mass media and its effect on social institutions and practices. Develops skills of qualitative and quantitative social science research in the area of mass communication processes; examines media as social, cultural, and economic institutions that shape the values of American society, its political dialogues, its social practices, and institutions.

JOUR 2132 - Introduction to Video Journalism
3 credit hours

Essential production techniques and applied technical skills necessary to arrange, shoot, edit, and produce a television news story in the field. All facets of electronic media news field production covered including camera work, lighting, audio, and editing.

Three-hour lecture plus up to three-hour lab per week.

JOUR 2710 - Media Writing
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020 or equivalents. Theory and practice of writing for print and electronic media according to the techniques, styles, and formats of various media. Laboratory required.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. The development and role of motion pictures in America, including the history of films and filmmakers, the influence of film on American culture, and film criticism.

JOUR 3050 - Principles of Health Communication
3 credit hours

Introduces students to fundamental issues in Health Communication. The development of health communication, the role of interpersonal communication in health care, the design and challenges of public health campaigns, intended and unintended health messages in news and popular media, the structure of health care organization, and key ethical issues in creating and disseminating health messages to diverse audiences.

JOUR 3070 - Introduction to Social Media Practice
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: EMC 2500 and EMC 3060. Introduces social media history, approaches, and practical application. Overview of social media usage within and on behalf of organizations and institutions through a practical analysis approach that focuses on the application of social media techniques.

(Same as RIM 3100.) Prerequisite: RI major - admission to candidacy; others - permission of instructor. Introduces students to different academic and theoretical approaches to popular music as a social and cultural phenomenon. A discussion oriented class that is both reading and writing intensive.

Prerequisites: JOUR 2132 and JOUR 3430 with minimum grade of C. Theory and practice in the gathering, editing, and writing of news for electronic media. Attention given to on-the-air presentation. Laboratory required. Three-hour lecture plus up to three-hour lab per week.

JOUR 3510 - Media History and American Culture
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3510.) Development of American journalism and the mass media from Colonial times to the present, including the role and influence of mass media on American culture, technical advances, and contributions of individual personalities.

JOUR 3520 - Special Topics in Professional Issues
3 credit hours

(Same as ADV/PR/VCOM 3520.) Prerequisites: JOUR 3090 or permission from the School of Journalism. Special topics in journalism, advertising, public relations, and visual communication focusing on practical applications. Topics change each semester and have included investigative, environmental, sports, and political reporting; visual editing; international public relations; and advertising account management. May be repeated up to 6 credits.

JOUR 3530 - Feature Writing
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: JOUR 2710 or permission of instructor. Theory and practice of writing feature stories for newspapers and magazines. Assignments in writing for professional publications as well as the student newspaper.

JOUR 3570 - Broadcast Announcing and Performance
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 3570.) Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy.

Responsibilities and skills required of the individual performer in preparing, announcing, and narrating of various types of materials for television and radio.

(Same as EMC 3600). Prerequisite: EMC 1020/JOUR 1020/RIM 1020. Enables students to develop an informed and critical understanding of media messages and media culture as well as their social, cultural, and political contexts and implications. Students develop the critical thinking skills and methods of analysis necessary to interpret media content in a digital age. Offers ways to think critically about media as they relate to citizenship and democracy.

(Same as EMC 3650/RIM 3650.) A general introduction to the issues surrounding free expression and its relationship to mass media in contemporary America. Comprehensive analysis of the history, philosophies, cases, and controls associated with freedom of expression.

JOUR 3660 - Strategic Communication Research
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: JOUR 2710, permission of instructor, or permission of the School of Journalism. Introduces research methods used in advertising, journalism, public relations, and strategic communication. Provides experiences in scientific research and data analysis, including quantitative and qualitative methods, content analysis, experiments, surveys and focus groups for diagnosing, planning, managing, and evaluating situations.

Prerequisites: JOUR 3430, JOUR 3500, and EMC 3570/JOUR 3570. Theory and practice of television journalism, including use of electronic news-gathering equipment, evaluating and processing news for broadcast, and delivery of television news. Laboratory required. Three-hour lecture plus up to three-hour lab per week.

JOUR 4000 - MC Internship
1 to 3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; permission of the internship coordinator. Advanced students gain practical experience in a professional setting. Note: Total credit for internship and practicum courses cannot exceed 3 credits. Pass/Fail.

JOUR 4210 - Mass Communication and Society
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4210.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Theories of the process of mass communication, how media affect society, the evolution within a social and cultural context, ethical and social dimensions. Extensive reading in theory, history, and research. Media-content emphasis varies depending on instructor's expertise.

JOUR 4240 - Television, Culture, and History
3 credit hours

Examines television as a cultural product, communication tool, "mirror on the world," and as an agent for social change. Explores censorship, sponsorship, ethics, and the impact of context on content. Focuses on role that television has had and continues to have on constructing notions of gender, race, class, and difference.

JOUR 4250 - Mass Media Law
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4250.) Prerequisites: JOUR 1020; junior standing. Examination of legal guarantees and restrictions on the flow of information using the case study method. Focus on libel, privacy, obscenity, and the special restrictions placed on advertising, broadcasting, cable TV, and the Internet.

JOUR 4300 - Reviewing and Criticism
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Theories and practice of reviewing and criticism in the mass media. Overview of current trends in film, theatre, music, books, and other entertainment media. Practice in critical and analytical writing.

JOUR 4440 - Advanced Reporting
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: JOUR 3090. Advanced theory and practice in news reporting, emphasis on coverage of governmental affairs and other public affairs-related assignments, including an introduction to interpretive and investigative reporting techniques.

JOUR 4660 - Scientific Approaches to Media
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Provides a critical overview of the historical, intellectual, and theoretical foundations of scientific inquiry with specific emphasis on quantitative research methods. Introduces major theories and methods of scientific inquiry in the field of communication including psychological and sociological perspectives, survey research, content analysis, experiments, observational research, and statistical analysis. Explores audience analysis, media effects, message testing, campaign evaluation, political communication, public opinion, and new media technologies.

JOUR 4670 - Cultural Approaches to Media
3 credit hours

Provides a critical overview of the historical, intellectual, and theoretical foundations of cultural studies with specific emphasis on research methods. Explores popular culture, comparative media systems, global media flows, and new media technologies, among other topics pertinent to media and journalism.

JOUR 4700 - Mass Media and National Security
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior/Senior standing or permission of instructor. Examines the role of the mass media in maintaining national security. Topics include history, legal, and operational concerns from both media and the government perspectives. Discusses the tension between maintaining national security and American traditions of civil liberties and the role of both the media and government in these discussions.

JOUR 4780 - Media and Markets
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Approaches to understanding media audiences. Examines tensions between the business and public functions of media, and social and ethical conflicts related to media marketing.

JOUR 4790 - Global News and World Media Cultures
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4790.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Systems and philosophies associated with gathering international news and news coverage in different regions. Looks at global communication systems and ownership; examines how cultures shape news and the role of the individual in reporting news internationally. Includes discussion of development issues and role of global advertising and public relations.

JOUR 4800 - Seminar in Media Issues
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Examination and critical evaluation of issues relevant to the operation and functions of mass media, including their relationships to each other and to government, advertisers, consumers, and other publics. May be repeated up to 6 credits.

JOUR 4810 - Global Comparative Media Systems
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4810.) A close comparative study of chosen media systems in regions of the world. Examines print, broadcast, entertainment, and new media in Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim Region, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Media interactions with an influence on the geographic, demographic, linguistic, cultural, economic, and political structures of countries.

JOUR 4820 - Race, Gender, and Class in Media
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4820.) Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or permission of instructor. Critical examination of diversity in mass communication with particular emphasis on media representations of race, gender, and class. Also examines audience interpretations of media texts.

JOUR 4850 - Ethics and Mass Communication
3 credit hours

(Same as EMC 4850.) Prerequisite: Junior standing. Examination of ethical concerns of media practitioners illuminated by study of selected current ethical issues and an overview of the cultural and philosophical basis of socially responsive mass media.

JOUR 4880 - Professional Development
1 credit hour credit

Prerequisite: Senior status. Issues faced by graduates upon entering the professional world or graduate school. Topics include preparation of the professional portfolio, the resume and cover letter, post-graduate study, and professional advancement. Should be completed by majors in the School of Journalism in either of their last two semesters prior to graduation.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Independent study projects or research related to media issues or professions.

JOUR 4910 - Research in Media Issues
3 credit hours

Students work on developing good writing skills while conducting original research in their areas of interest. Students will critique each other's writing in a peer-workshop environment, as they edit and revise their own writing--building to a journal-quality research paper presented to the class in a conference-like setting.